Leica announces Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH wide-angle lens

Leica has announced the Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH lens for its medium format S system. With an angle of view equivalent to a 35mm lens on full frame, it offers a classic moderate wide-angle field of view. Like several of the other S lenses it'll be available in two versions, either with or without an in-lens 'Central Shutter' (that allows flash sync at shutter speeds up to 1/1000 sec). At the same time, Leica is offering firmware updates for its S, S2 and S2-P cameras to give 'optimum functionality' with the lens. The Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH will be in dealers this month at a price of £4650, or £5500 for the CS model.

Press release:

New: LEICA ELMARIT-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH.

Class-leading standard wide-angle lens for the Leica S-System

Solms, Germany, 1 October 2013: Further defining the S-System as the ultimate solution for the most demanding professionals, Leica Camera AG has unveiled a new wide-angle lens, the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. Attaining class-leading critical levels of performance in all measurable areas, the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. sets new standards for wide-angle focal lengths in the medium format category. With this addition, the lens portfolio for the Leica S medium format system is now comprised of nine lenses (six of which are also available in a CS variant) with focal lengths ranging from 24 mm to 180 mm, assuring uncompromising imaging quality in almost all situations. Leica is also offering firmware updates FW 2.3.0.0 for the Leica S and FW 1.3.0.0 for the Leica S2 and S2-P, ensuring the optimum functionality of this new lens.

The equivalent angle of view of the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. corresponds to that of a classic 35 mm lens for 35 mm photography. Its moderate wide-angle with neutral reproduction of perspectives makes this versatile lens not only ideal for landscapes and architectural photography, but also in the studio or on location. At the same time, the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH.’s fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 makes it an optimal tool for available-light photography and the conscious use of selective planes of focus. Thanks to its brilliant colour rendition and outstanding imaging performance from the closest focus to infinity at all apertures, the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. guarantees perfect results in any photographic situation.

The Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. was developed to meet the stringent demands that professional users place on a camera system in their everyday photographic work and guarantees superior image quality. It offers maximum contrast rendition, highest resolution and extremely low distortion, even wide open. This lens also offers excellent control of flare to ensure high-contrast images, even when shooting a backlit subject. This results from its extremely elaborate optical design and construction: A total of twelve lenses are employed to achieve the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH.’s exceptional optical performance. Three lenses made from glass with anomalous partial dispersion minimise chromatic aberrations, and two further lenses are manufactured from glass with particularly low dispersion. An additional lens element with an aspherical surface minimises monochromatic aberrations. Rear-group focusing guarantees consistently outstanding imaging properties from infinity to its closest focusing distance.

As with all Leica S-System products, the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. is rugged and reliable, and designed to offer a particularly long operational lifespan. Ensuring absolute dependability, even under the harshest shooting conditions, the lens features an extremely robust bayonet mount and is fully sealed against dust and spray.

Pricing and availability

The Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH., with and without an integrated central shutter, will be available in the UK from authorised Leica dealers including the Leica Store Mayfair, www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk, tel: 020 7629 1351, starting October 2013. The lens is supplied complete with a rectangular lens hood optimised for the ray paths of light entering the optical system. The suggested retail price for the Leica Elmarit-S 45 mm f/2.8 ASPH. without an integrated central shutter is £4,650 including VAT; the SRP for the lens with central shutter is £5,500 including VAT.

Comments

Always wondering how people post comments about products they don't know and don't use. Finally, the price is the only remining argument (ah this ferrari is to expensive to go shopping etc) as the price is the only thing everyone can judge (on his personal budget).

Using the S-System now for more than two years (together with Nikon), I can say that the quality is outstanding, even compared with top notch DSLRs. It's NOT only the quality of the lenses, it's the combination of camera/sensor/focus/lens that make this system so unique. Of course, there are things you can't do with it (sports, low light, Tele), but for everything else the package is unmatched.

Seems people are too used to "Made in China" pricing these days, so they don't really have a clue of the real value of things.

That means: paying your skilled employee well, have a lot of social advantages because our society is developed, long and paid holidays, decent working hours, rights, will make your products very good but expensive.

In an other hand, of course you can like in China make your products built by almost unpaid ants, with no social advantages, no holidays, mediocre working condition, mediocre life.

It will much cheaper to make...so usual buyers will be much happier too and they won't complain at anything until they lose their own job because they cannot produce as cheap as those ants so their own company has to move in Asia in order to satisfy their "always cheaper customer's philosophy".

I am into the M system, and I am proud to buy "Made in Europe" because it means something.

Leica's S2 is a great camera I have used done, however as with most things Leica they are about three years behind everyone else!37.8MP is not that special nowadays with the Phase One IQ backs going up to 80MP and Hasselblad having 60MP.Probably the best MF camera out there at the moment is the Hasselblad H5D 200MS yes 200MP! If you compare the files the HD5 takes against the S2 its like Halina compact! If Leica really want to get pros to use their S2 they need to speed things up hugely! Nice camera but they live in the past!

H5D 200MS doesn't have 200MP. It has only 50 and merges multiple shots in software to get to simulated 200 (called super resolution technique). This can be done with any other camera in post processing with software like PhotoAcute.

The Leica was built ground up as a digital camera. Even the newest Sony, Nikon and Canon DSLR's are built to take legacy lenses. That puts Leica ahead of everyone bar m4/3 as a digital native system.

Also pixels aren't the same as resolution and acuity. Look at the Sigma DP cameras for how much you can get out of 15MP without a bayer filter. Similarly the Leica S out-resolves Phase One in many circumstances due to better lenses and integration.

I own Hassy's and I want to buy a Leica. The Leica is better now and - when the resolution improves, those S lenses will remain capable. Simply the best glass available.

Errmm.....because its better?!For a pro or an enthusiast with deep pockets its a great system but its not the cost its the availability that's the issue as you need to be very patent being a Leica owner! As far as quality goes different league to a D800 and Sigma lens!

If you have to ask then this system is not for you ! A Leica S2 will never outperform a D800 or any DSLR at high ISOs. It simply can't. However in a studio setup where light is under your control its simply better than any DSLR out there.

Most of the better product photographers use medium format cameras. You will never see sports pros using them and few wedding photographers also.

I'm a product photographer who would very much like to move up to an S in the next few years. D800 is great, but it is just a stop gap vs. a better 'medium' format with larger dynamic range, better flash sync speed, speedier controls and a lot more.

this is definitly overpriced in any sense , Leica S is not real MF , it does not even allow us to swap backs.the real digital MF is called Phase One , I do not even consider current digital Hassel Blad as real MF system(it is not Fullframe MF).anyway, this lens should be priced around 3k , think about even the large format or real MF Rodenstock lenses cost only 4 -5k , so people who are not collector or brainwashed Leica name lover never pay this kind of money for just 37.5 mp camera system using gens behind Kodak CCD.in fact , this camera does not resolve any better than the cheap Nikon D800E, Lloyd proved it, if you do not believe this , go Lu-la or Getdpi MF forums or even better go directly to Lloyd's site, he compared the Zeiss 135mm APO for F vs Leica 125mm f2.5 for the S , and the Zeiss was sharper.

that said , I love my Leica M 9 , and I think I will get the M240 soon with the 50mm f2 APO, the new 50mm f2APO is a great lens , with exquisite modern barrel design.

You clearly realize that Leica makes good lenses, but seem to think the sensor in the M9 is good and the one in the S2 isn't. Both sensors are plenty good, but only at lower ISOs. And it's not like there are too many MF backs that can easily shoot at ISO 640, like the Leica S2.

That Zeiss 135mm F2.0 lens is considered the best in the world, and is manual focus--easy enough I know.

Drop the "resolve" thing being the only important attribute of a lens. No one is saying that Zeiss lenses can't be sharp, or that a good Zeiss on the D800e is a bad combination.

Hasselblad 60 sensor is same size as Phase ones biggest sensor.. You clearly know nothing about medium format cameras.. as for Lloyd's test.. it was not the 135mm but the 100mm macro and it was a very simple test at a close distance.. lets try the test under various condition's and distances..and try autofocusing your Zeiss or flash syncing at 1/1000th sec or even compare the huge viewfinder of the S against the Nikon's..

Interesting lens. It’s just a shame that every Leica press-release prompts:

• shock real or faux that there exist lenses over $1000• indignation that Leica has the gall to charge that for rubbish• ripostes that Leica is not rubbish, but instead comparable to [tasteless supercar]• slurs on all and sundry.

If the comments were worth reading they’d encourage others to post things worth reading. As it is, they attract more nonsense. Look: here I am talking about the comments instead of the lens!

If you know where I can see the MTF chart for this new lens, let me know below.

Close range performance wide open seems rather mediocre for an S lens, but otherwise what one could expect. It would be interesting to know more about color correction, but as usual that will have to wait until someone actually uses the lens.

What I really find shocking is that Leica issues a press release with a photo so blurry that it might well have been taken with a pocketcam. Same on their own product page.

Amazing how quickly you make assumptions. This is definitely a price inline with other professional lenses, even rather competitive in the medium format world. And the quality will more than likely be up to scratch.

Now I'm curious. Has anyone every seen a Leica S2 in the wild? Outside of a store.

I have not, but then that's really not surprising. I imagine these are used by fashion journalists or something like that, where cheaper medium format camera like the 645D/Leaf would be considered too bulky. Though even there I can't help but wonder if a Canon 5DmkIII would serve just as well.

IIf the conditions are ok for it (enough light, not too fast action) it will smoke those canons and nikons. As any medium camera does. Its hard to grasp, but those canon and nikons are not the top of image quality - they are often only just good enough (or just plain cheap).

The Leica S2 is not made for people who are just rich. It is for professional photographers who require higher resolution, more dynamic range and detail than 35mm full frame cameras like the Canon 5D Mk3 could offer. It is not for sport or wildlife photographers either.

Most medium format cameras are used in the studio or for specific landscape photography where detail and high dynamic range are mandatory.

For a medium format camera, the S2 is actually quite portable and easy to handle. If you are really a professional landscape photographer, having one may make your life easier.

Just like in the movie industry, they use Arri Cine cameras and Zeiss lenses you won't see the average tourist would use for home videos.

well, the reality is no one use Leica S for professional work, maybe some but not many I mean.if they really need real MF cameras , they go directly to Phase or Leaf backs with Rodenstocks optics.if Leica S lenses are really as good as Rodenstock HR series lenses ,especially the 40mm , then many might take it a bit more seriously but you know?and this Leica is not modular camera , at this price , it should be modular and allow you to swap backs.

well , white shadow, you must be wrong, since we see Phase and Hassy quite often in any large city in the world but most of us never see any Leica S camera in real life.I love my M film and digital cameras but I do not really understand why Leica made this huge mistake with this fake MF camera.

I changed from Hasselblad H4D to Leica S2 three years ago because of the complete unreliability of the H4D for landscape work, especially involving the mountains of north western Europe - in short it broke down on too many occasions, most of which were at completely the wrong moment and I would suspect that most modular construction cameras would be prone to doing the same because of the real lack of proofing against the elements. The Leica (I have now moved to the S type 006 which is a meaningful improvement over the S2) has never failed me in driving rain and freezing conditions from Iceland and Arctic Norway to the mountain summits of Scotland and the quality of the lenses and sensor combination is nothing short of superb. I cannot comment on Nikon, but I can on Canon, Hasselblad and Olympus M43, and can confidently say that, although the Leica S has drawbacks (which camera system is perfect?) it beats anything from other systems I have experienced into the proverbial cocked hat.

You are right. A lot of people do not appreciate or understand the benefit of using the Leica S2. It is made for a special purpose and for certain photographers like you.

It is a great travel photographer camera for those who want quality above that of the 35mm format.

It is similar to those very portable medium format film cameras that Fuji made years ago. Unfortunately, Fuji is not making a digital version of them. Perhaps, they may do in the future. I believe there is a market for them.

3systermuser:Things can exist without you seeing them, you know. Especially when the entire market is something like 6000 new cameras a year. Since these cameras are kept for a long time, Leica can coneivably sell them for years before they start visibly displacing the other brands.

3systermuser has a rather uniformed reply there are plenty of pro's using the "S' series leica as its a great alternative to the "H" series.Speaking as a pro in London I am really pleasantly surprised how many people are using them and the great support here including rental for extra bits.

Zerg, you could do worse than a used VW Phaeton sedan... absolutely great quality, inexpensive now. Or, if you could bring yourself to stoop to lesser V-8s, a used Cadillac XLR roadster. Great cars!*and a whole lot less than the Leica package!

You are absolutely correct. At DPR forums, there are just too many people just enjoy complaining about things.

Like any medium format digital cameras, they are not made for the average hobbyist who want to take some snapshots. These are made for professional photographers who shoot cars, models for fashion or cosmetic companies and landscape. Top quality and detail are a must.

I think your attitude is totally wrong for if one followed your line then it would stifle ambition; some folks might be complaining because they would one day like to own a medium format system and these high prices just keep them from ever owning such a kit.

Further, generally, Leica prices are a rip off; their lenses are not leagues better than Zeiss glass but look at the price differences (admittedly Zeiss make a lot more money so perhaps have better scalability in pricing) and how on earth do Leica justify selling a £300 Metz flash for over £500 just because they put their logo on it (oops! that's the justification!!)

Zeiss lenses are excellent, but Zeiss didn't nearly bankrupt itself. Zeiss is a much bigger company. And clearly uses Japanese and Hungarian plants and subcontractors. Plus licenses its name more than Leica.

Right the price of Leica (Metz) flash is stupid. But just buy the Metz and use it.

@plevyadophy : Your argument doesn't make any sense. MF digital cameras have always been expensive. My MF FILM camera cost more than my top of the line SLR at the time too.

How is it "stifling ambition"? If someone aspires to own a Leica MF camera in the future then the reality is they are going to have to have the ambition to build a business that can afford it or just save up. Or they can wait 20 years and buy old technology.

As Zeiss lenses go, the prices of Zeiss lenses are reflected in their manufacturing. They are made in Japan at the SAME plant as the Voigtländer lenses. The Voigts are much less expensive than the Zeiss lenses with similar quality. Right there you are paying for the Zeiss name.

Leica lenses are made in Germany in smaller numbers, higher paid craftsmen, under stricter quality control.

In any case the real point of my argument still stands. I don't go to car websites and complain about the cost of a Lamborghini. It doesn't matter. I can't afford one.

But I think you have bought into the myth of Leica a little too much. Zeiss stuff is every bit as well made as Leica stuff (see Roger Cicala's teardown of the new Zeiss Touit lenses) but admittedly Zeiss labour costs are probably lower and they are a bigger company with a wider portfolio so can afford to make cheaper gear (but still, having said that, Leica still take outrageous liberties with their price markup e.g. their SF58 flash at circa £550 which is nothing more than a Metz flash with a Leica red dot, and the Metz equivalent costs around £300; so approximately 66% markup for nothing more than the red dot!).

Nobody is claiming that Leica S lenses are much better than Zeiss medium format lenses, though Leica did reengineer the S system lenses so the light is perpendicular to the sensor plane across the entirety of the sensor.

And Zeiss isn't really making MF lenses--the ones for the Contax system were, I believe, the last new ones. Yes I know that some can still be used on cameras like ironically the Leica S2.

Stop with the overpriced Leica version of the Metz flash. Few buy a flash because it says Leica on it, whereas many seek out systems that use Leica lenses.

I simply use the flash thing to illustrate a point, namely that a great deal of what one pays for in a Leica lens or camera is just excessive markup due to snob value.

Their pocket digicams, which are just Panasonic cams with a red dot on, are another example of Leica rip-off.

A Leica Noctilux should NOT cost what it does (as excellent as it is) especially given that nearly every reviewer who has tested it against the Voigtlander f1.1 equivalent say that for one-tenth the price you get about 85% the performance (and I have used both and own one).

The Leica S lenses are awesome but ................ so too is the price of the S system (awesome in the wrong way).

I would like to have the ability to sync full flash output at 1/1000th with my Nikon DSLR. Maybe one day in the near future we'll have fully electronic focal plane shutters that can sync at this and higher speeds.

They had electronic shutters back in the D70/D100 days. They were doable with CCD sensors but not with CMOS because of the way the data is transferred.

To have a high speed sync you need a global electronic shutter which isn't feasible with CMOS technology. Hence the rolling shutter which causes the "jello effect" in video. If a global shutter could easily be implemented in a CMOS it would have been done already to cure the video problem that everyone hates so much.

Even when using a global shutter with CCD's there were drawbacks such as blooming when very bright objects such as the sun were in the frame.

You are completely missing the point. With today's Canon and Nikon cameras you CAN NOT sync flash at anywhere near 1/1000 sec and at FULL POWER but with the Leica you can and you can do even better with a Phase One medium format system (which can sync at fuller power down to a shutter speed as fast as 1/1600s).

FP/HSS Mode and such like is just trickery and you lose a good three quarters of your flash output when your camera is set to these trick modes; it's better than nothing, but a Leica or Phase One flash sync is WAY better.

Try shooting outside on a sunny day when you have a big set i.e. you need a wide angle lens to fit in your entire composition or have to step back a great distance. You will be at a good distance from your subject and so too will your lights; you will either need big powerful lights or small lights assisted by a fast flash sync speed (personally, I prefer the latter).

I know for me there is night and day difference between working with a slow sync speed cam and a fast one; the fast one just gives you so much more freedom and flexibility.

I think both Leica and Phase One are to be applauded for giving photographers such good sync speeds (of course, they will likely lose that loveiliness when they move over to CMOS sensors)

@Yabokkie:You obviously have a tenuous grasp on how actual flash sync works. The High Speed Sync and FP Sync on Canon and Nikon flashes are a "trick" mode. They work by firing pulses of strobes as the focal plane shutter travels the height of the sensor.

This is good for some things, but it ONLY works with certain camera bodies and and dedicated flashes.

In the studio I use monolight strobes. There's no syncing above 1/250 with them because they don't have the HSS "trick" mode.

Camera that use central shutters, which are a type of leaf shutter that are built into the lens, can sync much faster because of the way a leaf shutter operates at high speeds is completely different than how a focal plane shutter operates.

Honestly, you should study up on your technology before you go running your mouth because you have pretty much NO IDEA about photography when it comes to practical knowledge.

I realize you bounce in and out of these comments just being contrary for fun. But Sigma lenses are no match for Leicas lens’ optical quality, nor are Canon or Nikon lenses. Not even close.

It’s sort of like saying the Subaru Imprezza is a better sports car than the Veyron. Except here the Veyron also has the endurance of the Impressa.

And yes I know that Sigma is rumored to be the Japanese maker of Japanese Leica lenses–which are plenty good, but the specs come from Leica, and very clearly Leica understands something about optics that all but one of the Japanese lens makers don’t know. No, I’m not thinking of Fuji.

45mm f/2.8 for more than 5000 pounds? Nice try Leica, but at Olympus, one can get 45mm f/1.8 lens for a lot less money! 350$ to be precise.... That's almost 20 times cheaper! I don't see why would anyone be interested in this (overpriced) 36mm f/2.2 (in the terms of DOF, not the Speed!) full frame equivalent lens......

This is a medium format lens, you cannot even begin to compare the amount of glass in it and the associated manufacturing complexity with that of a tiny 4x3 lens.Go check the prices of other medium format lenses.This lens and camera is for people who make their income with it, not for taking pictures of ducks floating in the pond.

@cruz031Did you noticed that this is a medium format lens? That it needs to cover a sensor that is 45x30mm and not the m4/3 sensor of 17x13mm?By the way, to keep on with your comparison, why should you pay 350$ for your 45mm/1.8 when you can get a 50mm/1.8 for FF at about 100$ (from Canon)? Your lens sounds now awfully overpriced! Maybe comparing just focal length and maximum aperture is a bit too simplistic?

Gentlemen. Once upon a time there was this phase : Envy/Jealous/Hate. Today world got that word ENVY disappear.I started from b/w film to date trying almost all digital. Finally settle with only All Leica.Regardless of the price, I owned it because I like it and that's all.Self satisfaction and appreciation is more than the money it's take.Even it's cost a 100k, then do a simple maths.With the shutter bearing 100,000 shots- it's cost a dollar a click.Make life simple, everyone got their own choice.Like cars, if you own a Toyota (that's what u can afford) then u tell everyone it's the best car and u will defend all comments. If u own a Ferrari then the story goes again. Most of the time I find ppl making big issue and eventually find out that they owned nothing.Even when choosing your lifetime partner, we make our own choice. Some like it fat, some like its skinny.

Where is it written that high quality, low volume items have to be cheap?Leica prices have always been expensive. When I owned an M-4 in the seventies a new lens was a month's pay. No different today.

The big difference was the absence of the internet where one could hear all the wailing of people who make it their mission to direct their manufactured outrage at a company they are not forced to buy from.

@Plevy, £5000 for a lens is approximately the monthly salary for a mid-career professional in the United States. So the cost of a Leica lens is about the same as it was decades ago if you account for inflation.

I had no doubt, the moment I posted this, that I would get attacked. If you, Leica owner, spent a provocative amount of money to obtain a Leica lens/body it does not automatically mean it is justifiable. The S system is -no doubt- a high image quality system but this is not surprising; any camera manufacturer can produce an excellent product if priced as much. The question is: what about the target group? Who is it, how wide is it, is it worth expanding it, what are the implications to the brand name, and whether there is a valid photographic legacy for Leica to be proud of?

If you ask me, I'd say that Leica has produced excellent photographic tools in the past, and continues more-or-less in the present, but the company's brand management and technological philosophy, which has made owners proud, is worrying. Remember Sigma SD1's initial price? Have you ever heard of Pentax 645D system? How many professionals would prefer Leica S to Pentax 645D unless they are sponsored or well-off?

Well, "mid-career professional" means very well off and/or earning a salary in the higher percentile of the population; meaning it's in real terms unobtainable, like I said, by a great many people (even people who would be willing to save hard to buy such gear).

Leica has become an elitist brand rather than merely an expensive high quality brand.

And solely great lenses do not suffice. The S2 reaches up to ISO 1250 but in order to maintain very high IQ reviewers suggest using ISO 640 at most. Excuse me? A (full weather-sealed) 645D will take you up to ISO 1600 with no real IQ degradation. Alternative, if one needs superb base ISO IQ and can live with a choice of only three FLs and APS-C DoF then one can obtain all three Sigma DP Merrills in the price of less than one Leica lens! I mean, this is ludicrous...

Dear Yabokkie, The world is not reducible to your specious comparisons. If MF was so comparable to other formats it would not exist. In fact it seems it would be worth your time to rent a MF kit and find out what the excitement is about. You may also learn a few things that cannot be inferred by numbers.

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